Bronze Plaque (Bronze Tablet) of the 314th Infantry

(three of the four panels are visible in the photo above)

(close-up of a portion of the bronze plaque)

Go back, if you will, to the year 1922. The Veterans of the 314th Infantry, A.E.F.,
dedicated a Memorial at Valley Forge -- a Memorial to live through the ages --
and to honor men who had given their all for their country.

We were mighty proud of the results of our efforts and justly so, but there was, perhaps, something lacking --
the names of those for whom the Memorial was created. In 1935 the original plan provided for the erection
of a Bronze Tablet within the Memorial and on which would be placed the names of these 362 of our comrades.
This, in itself, would have been a large undertaking, but before the first moulds had been cast,
a decision was reached to plan for the erection of sufficient tablets to include the name of every man
who served in the 314th Infantry. This count now included transfers to other regiments,
which had occurred during the training at Camp Meade as well as in France.

By the year 1943, the main tablets were completed and space had been provided for the placing of every name
of the 4,300 men comprising the regiment. All costs had been met and over one thousand dollars remained
in the Tablet fund, which was placed in the Log Cabin Memorial Endowment Fund until needed.

That time when adventure had lured me
I joined you, old pals, and we played
Our games 'til you thought you had cured me.
Perhaps- but my memory's swayed
To flashes, to mud, and to trenches;
To bierre and to bottles of wine;
To boulevards crowded with wenches;
To nights we were holding the line;
To comrades whose dust long has crumbled;
To days when each sleeve held an arm;
To curses and prayers that we mumbled;
To utter indifference to harm;
To songs, both of gladness and sorrow;
The song- was it that made us win?
Oh, the lilt of our hopes was a morrow
Of quiet away from the din.
We loved it and loving it hated-
Aye we, for I'm one of your fold.
Is my call of adventure full sated
By moments more precious than gold?
To know is, old pals, why I'm singing.
The song may be poor but each line
Rewards me with memories clinging-
God Bless You, good fellows of mine.
From the book "Doughboy Ditties".
Written and dedicated to the members of the 314th Infantry by
1st Lt. Joseph R. Cushing
314th Infantry Company G
1927

In Memory of Alfred and Martha Douglas by a grateful membership.

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